O-methyl sugars in lipopolysaccharides of Rhodospirillaceae. Identification of 3-O-methyl-D-mannose in Rhodopseudomonas viridis and of 4-O-methyl-D-xylose and 3-O-methyl-6-deoxy-D-talose in Rhodopseudomonas palustris respectively.

1. This paper deals with the identification of three O-methyl sugars in lipopolysaccharides isolated from strains of the Gram-negative photosynthetic family Rhodospirillaceae. In addition to the previously described 3-O-methyl-l-xylose, a second O-methyl sugar was encountered in the lipopolysaccharide of Rhodopseudomonas viridis F, namely 3-O-methyl-d-mannose. The lipopolysaccharides of two strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris (strain 1e5 and 8/1) contain two O-methylsugars, 4-O-methyl-d-xylose and 3-O-methyl-6-deoxy-d-talose (d-acovenose). 4-O-Methyl-d-xylose, but not 3-O-methyl-6-deoxy-d-talose, could be identified in the lipopolysaccharides of the strains K/1 and 2/2 of the same species. 2. The O-methyl sugars described in this communication were isolated by paper chromatography and identified by g.l.c., paper chromatography, high-voltage electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Besides the genuine sugars, their alditol acetates and their demethylated (parental) forms were investigated. Optical rotation measurements and, in one case, enzymic reactions were used to establish the optical configuration of the sugars under investigation.